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Saturday, 14 May 2016

Last year I contacted the Electoral Commission about full disclosure of all election expense submissions. Admittedly between 2010 and 2014 the rules had been changed to allow photocopies, but the charges are set by the local authority and can run into a significant amount of expenditure.

Date.....: 30/04.2015I am a...: a member of the publicComment/enquiry type: candidate/party spending/fundingComments:
After the 2010 General Election, I tried to check the election expenses for the local and national campaigns.

This involved me only being able to view them under strict supervision and only allowed to take notes. Photographs and photocopies were banned. I was there for 6 hours.

It would be good for democracy if the submitted election expenses for all election candidates were published and accessible on the internet post elections (EU, GE and local). It shouldn't be a onerous task to scan them.

However, if cost is an issue, the ban on being allowed to photograph or photocopy the submissions would help ensure that they can be scrutinised on a proper basis. It would seem that the current system is designed to make this as difficult as possible.

Regards

Thank you for your enquiry.

Please see the last page of this guidance document.

Councils are required to offer copies of candidate spending returns in exchange for a fee.

Councils must by law make the spending returns available for inspection at the council or another location. However there is no provision in law stating that councils can or must publish spending returns online. If you would like a change of law in this area, I suggest you contact your local MP

Thursday, 7 April 2016

Underneath the petal I lay downCaught myself a shadow, followed a cloudAll of these things that pull you awayAll of these things that make you changeI'll play you a song as sweet as can beThese notes in the dark are for you and me

Come while the day is still ours and make me yoursBefore the sky gets flooded, darkness fallsWhy does this bad blood flow at the endSurprises like oil then sits on a bendMakes me think you're standing in my lightIt's hard feeling beaten when your hearts become silent

Underneath the petal, it's all mine

That search for something moreWhen it's already in the stoneWe'll be alright nowWe've got our own wayAnd it plays around like thunder on a clear day
Underneath a promise I fell down

You looked so much happier than you do right nowThose drowning eyes won't carry meThat stranger's way won't make me leaveUnderneath the petal, it's all fineUnderneath the petal, it's all mine

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About Me

Once I was a boy, which seems funny to me. Yes, I threw my stones, read my books, climbed those trees.
What can I say to you mister?
Yes, I've been drinking again. You can beat my brains, but don't kiss me again.
I've always been like this, since I was young, I'm a truculent bigot, I revel in scum.